Single transceiver for wireless peer-to-peer connections

Abstract

Data transfer in a communications network includes a first communication device including a transceiver; and an interface operatively connected to the first communication device, wherein the interface provides multiple operative connections for data transfer, wherein the multiple operative connections include a WLAN connection adapted for communication with an access point that generates data exchange signals; and a P2P connection adapted for communication with a second communication device, wherein the transceiver is shared between the multiple operative connections. The first and second communication devices may include a WiFi device. The first communication device may further include a pair of data registers and state machines; a MAC layer controller that receives input from the pair of data registers and state machines; and a PHY layer controller that receives input from the pair of data registers and state machines and the MAC layer controller, and sends instructions to the transceiver.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A system for performing data transfer in a communications network, said system comprising:
 a first communication device comprising:
 a transceiver; 
 a pair of data registers and state machines; 
 a media access control (MAC) layer controller that receives input from said pair of data registers and state machines; and 
 a physical (PHY) layer controller that receives input from said pair of data registers and state machines and said MAC layer controller, and sends instructions to said transceiver; and 
 
 an interface operatively connected to said first communication device, wherein said interface provides multiple operative connections for data transfer, wherein said multiple operative connections comprise:
 a wireless local area network (WLAN) connection adapted for communication with an access point that generates data exchange signals; and 
 a peer-to-peer (P2P) connection adapted for communication with a second communication device, 
 
 wherein said transceiver is shared between said multiple operative connections. 
 
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1 , wherein said first communication device comprises a WiFi device, and wherein said second communication device comprises a WiFi device. 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) that generates carrier frequencies, selectively switches between a WLAN carrier frequency and a P2P carrier frequency, and inputs the selected carrier frequency to said transceiver. 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a pair of voltage-controlled oscillator (VCOs) that provide for switching of selected carrier frequencies to said transceiver, wherein said pair of VCOs comprises:
 a first VCO that generates a WLAN carrier frequency; and 
 a second VCO that generates a P2P carrier frequency, 
 wherein said WLAN carrier frequency and said P2P carrier frequency are selectively input into said transceiver based on a switching criteria. 
 
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 4 , further comprising a fairness algorithm unit that defines said switching criteria between the WLAN and P2P connections. 
     
     
       6. The system of  claim 5 , wherein said switching criteria comprises instructions for prioritizing multiplexed traffic between said WLAN and P2P connections. 
     
     
       7. The system of  claim 1 , wherein said pair of data registers and state machines comprises:
 a first data register bank associated with said WLAN connection; and 
 a second data register bank associated with said P2P connection, 
 wherein said first data register bank and said second data register bank store control registers. 
 
     
     
       8. The system of  claim 1 , wherein said pair of data registers and state machines comprises:
 a first state machine associated with said WLAN connection; and 
 a second state machine associated with said P2P connection, 
 wherein said first state machine and said second state machine share a MAC layer and a PHY layer in said communications network. 
 
     
     
       9. The system of  claim 1 , wherein said access point comprises a WiFi access point. 
     
     
       10. A method of performing data transfer in a communications network, said method comprising:
 providing a first communication device comprising:
 a transceiver; 
 a pair of data registers and state machines; 
 a media access control (MAC) layer controller that receives input from said pair of data registers and state machines; and 
 a physical (PHY) layer controller that receives input from said pair of data registers and state machines and said MAC layer controller, and sends instructions to said transceiver; 
 
 providing multiple operative connections for data transfer with said first communication device; 
 associating a wireless local area network (WLAN) connection for communication with an access point that generates data exchange signals; 
 associating a peer-to-peer (P2P) connection for communication with a second communication device; and 
 sharing said transceiver between said multiple operative connections. 
 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 10 , wherein said first communication device comprises a WiFi device, and wherein said second communication device comprises a WiFi device. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 generating carrier frequencies using a voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO); 
 selectively switching between a WLAN carrier frequency and a P2P carrier frequency using said VCO; and 
 inputting the selected carrier frequency to said transceiver. 
 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 switching of selected carrier frequencies to said transceiver using a pair of voltage-controlled oscillator (VCOs), wherein said pair of VCOs comprises a first VCO that generates a WLAN carrier frequency, and a second VCO that generates a P2P carrier frequency; and 
 selectively inputting said WLAN carrier frequency and said P2P carrier frequency input into said transceiver based on a switching criteria. 
 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 13 , further comprising using a fairness algorithm unit that defines said switching criteria between the WLAN and P2P connections. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 14 , wherein said switching criteria comprises instructions for prioritizing multiplexed traffic between said WLAN and P2P connections. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 10 , wherein said pair of data registers and state machines comprises:
 a first data register bank associated with said WLAN connection; and 
 a second data register bank associated with said P2P connection, 
 wherein said first data register bank and said second data register bank store control registers. 
 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 10 , wherein said pair of data registers and state machines comprises:
 a first state machine associated with said WLAN connection; and 
 a second state machine associated with said P2P connection, 
 wherein said first state machine and said second state machine share a MAC layer and a PHY layer in said communications network. 
 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 10 , wherein said access point comprises a WiFi access point. 
     
     
       19. A system for performing data transfer comprising:
 an interface that provides multiple operative connections for data transfer, wherein said multiple operative connections comprise a wireless local area network (WLAN) connection adapted for communication with an access point that generates data exchange signals, and a peer-to-peer (P2P) connection adapted for communication with a communication device, 
 a transceiver that is shared between said multiple operative connections; and 
 a plurality of voltage-controlled oscillator (VCOs) that provide for switching of selected carrier frequencies to said transceiver, wherein said plurality of VCOs comprises a first VCO that generates a WLAN carrier frequency, and a second VCO that generates a P2P carrier frequency, wherein said WLAN carrier frequency and said P2P carrier frequency are selectively input into said transceiver based on a switching criteria. 
 
     
     
       20. The system of  claim 19 , further comprising a fairness algorithm unit that defines said switching criteria between the WLAN and P2P connections, wherein said switching criteria comprises instructions for prioritizing multiplexed traffic between said WLAN and P2P connections.